WannaCry Ransomware Hackers Are Most Likely From China

Since the arrival of WannaCry ransomware, the researchers have been unable to find the exact forces behind the attack. A new analysis by Flashpoint highlights the possibility of WannaCry’s affiliation to Chinese hackers. The firm performed a linguistic analysis of ransom notes in WannaCry samples and arrived at this conclusion. There are some things we know about WannaCry ransomware for sure. It was created by cyber criminals using an exploit that was the part of NSA’s exploit leaked by a group named The Shadow Brokers. The ransomware went on to affect hundreds of thousands of computers running Windows 7, Vista, and XP.

It’s possible that we may never know about the exact creators of this ransomware who locked the PCs of innocent users and demanded ransom. But, a recent research from the security firm Flashpoint points a finger towards a Chinese connection.
In a blog post, Flashpoint has listed the results of its linguistic analysis of WannaCry ransomware messages. The team analyzed the ransom notes individually for content, accuracy, and style.
Flashpoint found that WannaCry samples had language configuration files with translated message in different languages. It was found that almost all notes were translated using Google Translate. Only one English and two Chinese notes were likely to have been written by a human. It was also found that the English note was used as the source text for other translation and its writer could’ve been non-native.
Coming back to the two Chinese notes, they were different from each other in format, content, and tone. Google Translate also fails in Chinese-English and English-Chinese conversion tests.
The analysis revealed certain unique characteristics that indicate that a Chinese expert wrote it. A specific typo made it clear that the note was written using a Chinese-input system. The Chinese note also used proper grammar, punctuation, and syntax.
The text has certain terms that narrow things down to Southern China. A compelling indicator was the lengthiness of the Chinese note.
While Flashpoint underlines the possibility of a China-based force, they don’t forget to mention that such hints were intentionally included to mislead. You can read about the research in detail here.

  

Father Of Android Launches “Essential Phone” — See Pictures And Detailed Specifications

 

Andy Rubin, the father of Android, has finally unveiled his much-anticipated smartphone — Essential Phone. Loaded with top-notch specifications like Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, and 128 GB storage, Essential Phone also features a dual camera and a 360-degree camera accessory. This almost bezel-less phone will cost $699 and first launch in the US. We’ve been reading different rumors about an upcoming smartphone from the father of Android, Andy Rubin. This device, called the Essential Phone, has now been finally unveiled.

Essential Phone is powered by Android and comes with a hint of modularity. If you look at the phone, the first thing that strikes you is its magnificent edge-to-edge screen, which leaves little space for the bezel. The Verge points out that there isn’t even a logo on the phone exterior, so chances are that there won’t be much bloatware to slow down your phone.
Essential Phone, which costs $699, will be launching first in the US. The other top-end specifications of this phone are Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, 4GB RAM, and 128 GB storage.
Essential has stressed heavily on accessories. It’ll ship with a 360-degree camera that’ll stick to the top of the phone. You’ll get a magnetic connector and wireless data transfer. It also comes with a phone dock with a unique click cordless connector. The phone has a 12MP dual camera at the back which records 360° UHD (3840 x 1920) videos at 30fps.
Just like iPhone 7, Essential Phone doesn’t have a 3.5mm headphone jack and it ships with a dongle in the box. We can hope that audio accessories will be connected using the magnetic connector.
Talking about the phone’s body, it’s made of titanium and ceramic. The company claims that the phone is able to withstand a concrete drop test.

Essential Phone Specifications:

Model Name

• Essential PH-1

Materials

• Titanium body
• Ceramic back
• Corning Gorilla Glass 5 cover glass

Dimensions

• Height: 141.5mm
• Width: 71.1mm
• Thickness: 7.8mm
• Weight: < 185 grams

Display

• Resolution: 2560 x 1312 QHD
• Aspect Ratio: 19:10
• Diagonal Size: 5.71” with radiused corners
• Brightness: 500 nits (typical)
• Contrast Ratio: > 1:1000 (typical)
• Technology: CGS / LTPS

Human Input + Sensors

• 10 finger multitouch; palm and water-error rejection
• Fingerprint reader: fastest available technology
• Proximity / Ambient light sensor
• Volume buttons, Power button
• Environmental pressure sensor (barometer)
• Accelerometer, Magnetometer and Gyroscope

Audio

• Microphone: 4x microphones with noise cancellation and beam forming
• Low Audio (earpiece)
• High Audio: (loudspeaker)

Rear Camera

• 13MP Dual RGB + Mono camera with image fusion technology
• 13MP True Monochrome mode
• f/1.85 lens
• Hybrid Auto Focus combing Contrast, Phase Detect and IR Laser Assist Focus
• Video at 4K 30fps, 1080p 60fps or 720p 120fps

Front Camera

• 8MP resolution with 16:9 aspect ratio
• f/2.20 fixed hyperfocal lens
• Video at 4K 30fps, 1080p 60fps or 720p 120fps

Battery

• 3040mAh.
• Fast charging via USB

Memory & Storage

• RAM: 4GB
• Storage: 128GB UFS 2.1

Connectivity

• Bluetooth: 5.0 LE
• WiFi: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with MIMO
• NFC: yes
• Positioning: GPS and GLONASS

System Architecture / OS

• Android
• Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 835
• CPU: Kryo 280 Octa-core (2.45GHz Quad + 1.9GHz Quad), 64 bit, 10nm processor
• GPU: Adreno 540, 710MHz, 64bit

Ports

• USB Type-C
• 60GHz, 6 Gbps Wireless Accessory Connector
• 2x accessory power pins
• NanoSIM tray with pin eject

99 Countries Affected By Massive WanaCrypt0r Ransomware Attack

The hackers have used the leaked NSA tools to infect computers with WanaCrypt0r 2.0 ransomware. This malware exploits EternalBlue vulnerability and uses phishing emails to infect computers. Till now, Avast has recorded more than 75,000 infections in 99 countries. While WanaCrypt0r is most affecting Russian and European countries, the possibility of its arrival in the US can’t be denied.  Earlier this year, hacking group Shadow Brokers claimed that it had stolen cyber weapons from the America’s NSA, which can be used to get unfettered access to the computers running Microsoft Windows and other operating systems. Now, the malicious software WanaCrypt0r 2.0 (aka WCry) is being used to carry out one of the biggest ransomware attacks of its kind.

Dozens of countries have been hit with this cyberextortion attack that locks up computers and holds user’s files for ransom. Multiple companies, government agencies, and hospitals have become a target of this attack. Security firm Avast has recorded more than 75,000 detections of WanaCrypt0r 2.0 in 99 countries.
As a result of the attack, sixteen National Health Service (NHS) organizations in the UK have been hit. Many of them have canceled patient appointments. Spanish telco Telefónica has also been hit.
After the attack, the ransom being demanded is $300 worth of bitcoins. The ransom message also has instructions on how to pay the ransom, explanation of the attack, and a timer:
More technical details can be found on Avast’s blog.
While the ransomware attack is mainly targeted to Russia, Taiwan, and Ukrain, the attack is showing its impact all around the world. Below is a map that shows the countries being targeted by WanaCrypt0r 2.0:
Today, WanaCrypt0r is available in 28 different languages, ranging from Bulgarian to Vietnamese. This malware is spreading by exploiting a vulnerability called EternalBlue.
This scam, most probably, has spread using a wave of phishing emails with malicious attachments that infect computers when users click on them. The official government advice is not to pay criminals behind such attacks.

                  

Microsoft Launches Surface Laptop — A Chromebook Killer and MAC killer

 
Microsoft has launched Surface Laptop, a Chromebook competitor focused on the education sector. It’s a lightweight laptop that’ll run Windows 10 S. Featuring a 13.5” PixelSense display, this device comes in 4 colors and has 14.5 hours battery life. It’ll cost $999. At its May 2 event, Microsoft launched Windows 10 S–a lighter version of Windows 10. The company announced that it’ll partner with OEMs like Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, HP, Samsung, and Toshiba to launch cheaper notebooks starting from $189. The company also used the opportunity to launch a new member of the Surface family, i.e., Surface Laptop.

Surface Laptop is Microsoft’s answer to Chromebook, which are dominating the schools all across the United States. It’s a lightweight Windows laptop that’ll run Windows 10 S.
It’s a lightweight laptop that features a 13.5” PixelSense display, with 1080p resolution and 3:2 aspect ratio, and 3.4 million pixels. It features thinnest LCD touch module ever created. It comes in 4 different colors and 14.5 hours long battery life.
The other specifications are conventional USB port, SD card slot, mini DisplayPort, and a Surface power connector. It weighs 2.76 pounds and runs Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB RAM, and 128GB SSD storage.
It’ll cost $999. Surface Laptop will become available from June 15, with pre-orders starting on May 2, i.e., today.